While working on Chemistry last week, it suddenly hit me about how ironic high carbon steel was, and how people could be categorised into different types of steel. I won’t get into the chemistry of it, but in case you happen to not know, you can ask me privately.

High carbon steel:

High carbon steel is hard and brittle. That means it can withstand gradual increases of force applied on it. But let’s say someone takes a hammer and forces a sudden surge of sense into the steel. It’ll just get a heart attack and die. No, I’m kidding. It breaks – no longer the tough blob we’ve been hearing about.

How does it relate to life? Well, some people are strong and can withstand everyday challenges that they face throughout their life. However, when something big and intimidating suddenly comes along their way, they collapse there and then. And that’s the end of their story, unless someone heats them up and fixes them together again.

The other extreme, low carbon steel:

Low carbon steel is not as strong, but it can be easily bent. Back to the hammer. If someone uses the same force as just now and tries to hammer low carbon steel, he/she’ll probably find a gapping hole on the worktable (let’s not imagine the finger). Well, not too bad since it’s still in one piece.

And now, to life. Some people may not be so persistent (or in a negative way, stubborn), but they are able to adapt to changes more easily. Challenges aren’t as daunting and they will more or less keep their bits together.

Which carbon percentage is optimum, and which am I? I’ll have to think about that.